Godfrey Van Lanen &
Hannah Hermans
Godfrey VAN LANEN was born on March 17th, 1854 in the town of Scott, Brown County, Wisconsin. the son of Peter VAN LANEN and Wilhelmina JANSENS. Godfrey was Peter and Wilhelmina's the fourth child. At the age of ten Godfrey met and shook hands with Abraham Lincoln, who was then a candidate for President of the United States.
Hannah HERMANS was born November 19th, 1858, in the town of Preble, Brown County, Wisconsin , the daughter of Albert HERMANS and Anna Marie KUSTERS.
Godfrey and Hannah were wed on October 3rd 1876, in Holy Cross Church, Bay Settlement, Wisconsin. They lived in the town of Scott, where on August 3rd, 1877, Hannah gave birth to their first son Peter. Peter married Mary SMITS on May 20th, 1908 together they had five children. Their second son Albert Hobartus was born on August 10th, 1879.
The 1880 census describes Godfrey's occupation as a farmer. Godfrey and Hannah had five more children between 1880 and 1891:
- William born November 8th 1881, married Anna Linders and they had four children.
- Martin G. born February 3rd, 1884. Martin's first marriage was to Pauline VANDER LINDEN (no children). He then married Antoinette (Nettie) KUIPERS and they had five children.
- Mary Ann born May 6th, 1886.
- Mary Genevieve born January 3rd 1889.
- Wilhelmina (Minnie) born May 7th, 1891.
Pictured above are Godfrey (left), Albert (back left), Peter (back middle), William (back right), Martin (front left), Hannah (center), Mary Ann (on Hannah's lap) and Peter Van Lanen (Godfrey's father).
In late 1892, and early 1893, the area was struck by a diphtheria epidemic. Albert , Mary Genevieve, Wilhelmina and Mary Ann were afflicted, Albert died on January 27th at the age of thirteen (death registration), Genevieve at the age of five on February 4th, 1893 (death registration), Wilhelmina at 21 months on February 5th, 1893 (death registration) and Mary Ann on March 6th, 1893 (death registration).
Even after the loss of four children the family carried on and three more children were conceived.
- In September of 1893, Godfrey and Hannah had another son
whom they named Albert
(after their second son). Albert married Delia PETERS
and had five children (Albert Van Lanen Family
History**).
On April 7th, 1896, Hannah gave birth to a girl whom they named Mary Ann (Marion) (named after the first Mary Ann. Mary Ann married Joseph Valentine ANGST and they had seven children (Joseph Valentine Angst Family History).
Finally, on April 3rd, 1899, Hannah gave birth to Anna Mary, Hannah, however, suffering from complications at the birth, died on the 14th of April, 1899 (death registration 1, death registration 2, Mass Card). Anna Mary died 6 years later in 1905.
** History not yet available
Godfrey carried on and spent 20 years as the manager of the Wequiock Creamery. He also served the Town of Scott as a county supervisor, and treasurer for 10 years, holding many offices in town government and at Holy Cross Church.
Godfrey died on February 28th, 1939 (Death Certificate), at the age of 84 (Obituary) at his daughter Mary Ann's house at 1413 Day Street in Green Bay, Wisconsin (Funeral Announcement, Grave).
Grace Mary Angst described her recollection of his death: "Aunt Del and Uncle Martin and other relatives had spent the night. He (Godfrey) wanted to sit up and I remember they (the relatives) talked about sitting so he could lean on them. When I woke up in the morning we were told that Grandpa had died."
Memories: Grace Mary Balza (grand-daughter)
VAN LANEN Ancestry 
The VAN LANEN surname originates in the towns of Boekel and
Uden, Noord Brabant, Holland and means "from the
lanes". The earliest Van Lanen identified to date is Peter VAN LAANEN who was
married to Wilhelmina VAN DEN
ANKER. This couple had at least one son Gerardus VAN LANEN (1788 -
<1870) who married Johanna
Adriaan Giele VAN DER HEIJDEN (1790 - <1870).
Gerardus and Johanna had at least 7 and possibly as many as 11
children (Gerardus Van
Lanen Family History) who immigrated to Green Bay, Brown
County Wisconsin in 1849. Of the 7 children who survived
the trip to the United States, our direct ancestor was Peter VAN LANEN (1817 - 1881)
who was married to Wilhelmina
JANSENS (1819 - ?). Peter and Wilhelmina were blessed
with six children (Peter
Van Lanen Family History) the forth born was Godfrey VAN LANEN (1854 -
1939). Godfrey married Hannah
HERMANS (1858 - 1899) their history is described above.
JANSENS Ancestry
Details about the Jansens line are a subject for future
research.
HERMANS Ancestry
The HERMANS surname is German in origin. At this point
its not clear how they came to live in Holland. Currently
the earliest known Dutch Hermans ancestor is Martin (Martinus) HERMANS who
married Annie BARTEN.
Martin and Annie (Martin
Hermans Family History) had at least one child Albert (Lambertus) HERMANS (1819
- 1911). Albert married Anna
Marie KUSTERS (1823 - 1892) and the couple had nine
children (Albert Hermans
Family History). Hannah
HERMANS their fifth child married Godfrey VAN LANEN described
above.
KUSTERS Ancestry
Details about the Kusters line are a subject for future
research.
Last updated: October 1st, 1999
Copyright 1999, Richard M. Balza
To make corrections or obtain more information contact: Richard M. Balza